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I had a sleeve 7 years ago and am revising to bypass with a surgery date of March 1st. The process after approval for my sleeve was bittersweet. I was working with an elderly man who died suddenly, we were very good friends. He died just a few hours before my final pre-op appointment. My surgeon's final appointments are LONG (2 hours, one with the nurse and one with the surgeon) and as much as I tried to be happy, I just couldn't because I was so sad. This followed me to surgery day too. Here I am, surgery day #2 coming up on March 1st (68 days away!!!). I'm trying my best to enjoy this pre-op period. As a team, they decided I don't have to do the 10 day pre-op diet, but I'm going to do one anyhow. I'm going to do a week of 2 shakes and one lean protein, low carb meal per day, as a way of getting my mind in the game.

The only way a surgeon who I've never seen is going to operate on me is if it's an emergency. Follow your gut and find someone else. My surgeon meets with all her patient's multiple times before surgery. A week before surgery I'll see her for an hour long appointment. I had her do my VSG and she's doing my revision due to GERD. She's still having me do the big hour long appointment.

Hey! I’m hoping to find someone that’s going on a similar journey. in 2016 I had a sleeve. Lost 100 lbs, got pregnant in 2017 but Kept most of. Then in 2019 we started fertility treatments for number 2 and I gained all 100 back. I’m having bypass revision on Jan 6. I’m panicking. I’m 30, I have two girls, 4 and 1. Live in Illinois. I have an extremely sarcastic personality. Not a good marriage, not much support. I don’t really have friends. Anyone? Lol I sound like a blast

WAIT. Halfway through this, I checked to see if I wrote this. I had a sleeve in 2016, lost 100, and then got pregnant in 2017. I have PCOS, we had to do IVF to have my second. In the time between both kids, I gained all 100 back. I’m having a RNY revision 1/6! Feel free to message me!

I had my revision surgery yesterday. I’m surprised how easily I drink fluids.

Hi there, I had a gastric bypass on 29th November and bleeding started a few days later. Still bleeding. Been on depo for 9 months and had no periods at all. Did your bleeding resolve or did your doctor prescribe you something to help with it. Tried asking the nurse when I went for my b12 jab and she wasn't interested.

with your reflux, the sleeve is pretty much not a viable option for you. The sleeve creates a high pressure system that makes the reflux worse. My surgeon explained that with bypass most of the stomach that produces the acid is cut away and there isn't that high pressure system.

I don't have personal experience but have a very good friend who has severe RA and deals with it through meds and an anti-inflammatory diet. Rare sugar and few carbs help a ton, according to her. This is the kind of diet change we need to do with the bypass anyhow.

I have a spouse who doesn’t want me to have the surgery. I’m having the sleeve tomorrow and today I am 5’7 and 211. I am a severe diabetic and to the point I have to have this even though I’m at a 34 BMI due to the diabetes and health issues with that my insurance is paying 100% of the surgery. But Mr has brought me my favorite things, tried to take me to dinner and get mad when I say no during the liquid phase. The closer to surgery the more insecure he is becoming (married 20 years) I am seeing my therapist more the past week then my entire life. I will choose life and health over his insecurities and sabotaging me. I lost my very healthy thin father to diabetes when I was 17. I want to be here for my kids and grandkids. If you want this, you want life and choose, as someone here told me yesterday, to learn to love yourself then this will work and you will be successful. My sister had bypass 25 years ago and still maintaining her weight loss, her daughter had it 3 years ago maintaining her weight loss. I could go on and on but I won’t. I think the first step is seeing a therapist to find out why you are killing yourself with food. Because that is what is happening. It’s a tool, it’s up to you to succeed. And I am fighting against all odds with my Hubby but I will choose life and make this successful if that means leaving my 20 year marriage. If he loves me he will support me and help me - period

I'm a little over 1 year post-op. Sleeved 12/4/20 in Tijuana, amazing experience, no complications and good follow up care with a good state side PCP who approved of and supported going to Mexico. I started at 345 lbs and currently weigh 225 lbs at 5'7 so 120 lbs lost in a year. Emotionally, I'm sad, frustrated and need some support. I have zero appetite (absolutely none) and take a med who's off label usage is for binge eating disorder which further surpresses anything hunger related. This med is for executive dysfunction issues (ADHD) so going off is not an option. I have no cravings. I'm very much struggling to eat, but I have serious food intolerances. I cannot tolerate most meat such as chicken, beef or pork. It makes my stomach cramp horribly. If I do force myself to eat it, I can maybe get a few ounces in but I'm miserable for a while after. Shrimp is the only animal protein that I can tolerate consistently with little issues. Even fish can be problematic only due to palate and taste bud changes. I can no longer tolerate eggs by themselves. I vomit within 10 minutes and vomiting triggers food avoidance for days. This has been mitigated by a therapist and not eating eggs. Eggs used as a binder in things like bread, cake or muffins are fine. Rice, pasta, bread and vegetables give me no problems. Dairy is ok as long as it's Fairlife milk and protein shakes or aged cheese. Any other cow based dairy items trigger diarrhea at the worst, stomach cramping/bloating at the least. Non-dairy such as oat milk and nut milks are no issues. Most protein shakes/powders make me vomit like eggs do. I have spent hundreds of dollars on protein shakes and am grateful that my husband can drink anything or it'd all go to waste. Surprisingly, I can tolerate deli meat, but very tiny portions like in a lunchable. Same goes for sandwiches so I've been consistent with those. Snacks are non-existent except for sunflower seeds. Sometimes even Doritos bother me. The only slider food I had for a while was ice cream, but it triggered lactose issues I've never had before so... Drinking is not an issue though I do have issues with certain waters, but juice? Tea? Coffee? No problems! Anything liquid doesn't bother my stomach. Even drippings from the chicken I'll put on rice! I'm also experiencing gastro issues... Specifically the trigger to release your bowels when you eat. It's an involuntarily action your body does, but mine is violent. For months I had nothing my diarrhea after eating. I did a stool test and it was only slight inflammation. It's slowed down some but I just stick near a toilet when I eat. It doesn't matter really what I eat either. I also have GERD (did not have it prior, one of the lucky few that develop it post surgery) and am on prescription meds because OTC does not work. GERD is not every day. I'll have a flare up (connected to nothing!) Maybe 1x per month for a few days and then nothing. The above intolerances and gastro issue trigger food avoidance how vomiting does. I'm literally disgusted 99% of the time I'm in the kitchen when looking to feed myself because of the physical issues I'm having with food. I have no problems cooking for and feeding others (I have a family) and being in the kitchen and cooking is still an absolute joy. I have no negative physical or mental reactions to food that I do not plan to eat. Strangely, I'm VERY excited to still try new foods and will go with friends or family who have as diverse palates as I do and will taste their item. But it's literally a taste. I know I'm not eating enough, weightloss has definitely stalled due to the lower calories. I'm taking my vitamins like clock work and while I'm due for more blood work, my last was great. Feeding myself feels like a huge chore. VSG has done it's job - it's changed me metabolically. No more appetite, no more cravings and has completely rewired my brain to not enjoy food at all. I'm only a year PO so... Could this change? How do I combat this? Should I stop whining? Does it get better? Should I go back to therapy? Would a revision help? I feel like most people want to only look at food as a necessity. I wish I was disinterested in food like I am now, but without the physical side effects that make me sick or keep me on a toilet. I appreciate you reading this far!

I just had a revision to RNY because my post sleeve GERD was so bad. I now have Barret's Esophagus so didn't want to put it off any longer. Sent from my SM-G991U using BariatricPal mobile app

I had the bypass 11/30. 3 weeks out I am only down 16lbs. I get your frustration! Following everything to the t. Getting in the right amount of protein and fluids. Was hoping I’d feel all of this is worth it but haven’t yet. All I can say is stick to it and hopefully the progress will follow. That’s what I keep telling myself anyways!

Hi I had my gastric bypass surgery on 12/18/2021 and I lost 31lbs. Now my issue is getting use to the measurements because I feel nauseous, if I eat like a little more. What should I do, any recommendations please.

My PS wanted me to try to lose more weight, but I was stuck for years as far as weight went. I was having reflux at that time and within the past two years after the tummy tuck, it got worse , I think due to all of the muscles being tightened, it put more pressure on my stomach, so I had to have the band removed. Now, I'm 8 months out of band removal and haven't gained any weight... yet. But I feel like it's only a matter of time, so I'm probably going to revise to RNY. At least when I do get to goal, I can finally do all of the plastics that I was planning to do right when Covid hit. But I understand about your age and the risks involved, and it will be a relief to get the excess skin removed. Best of luck to you!

I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. My surgery is on the 12th of January. Nervous cause i haven't had a surgery ever, cause i take neuroleptics that makes the weight loss harder but excited cause i so want it to go well. I even start my own blog in English about my journey: mybariatricstory.wordpress.com.

Thank you! I would love to have a plastic surgeon do it, but my BMI is still 42 and they won’t touch it. She said a panniculectomy is less risky with less risk of blood clots at this size. They all recommended I get the gastric bypass, but that means another two years of approval/weight loss/weight stabilization before I could have it done. I’m already 65. I just don’t want to wait that long, nor do I want the bypass. I have constant neck and back pain and know this would help, but I don’t want to look also don’t want to look odd. I’m so torn!

I had a 150 pound loss with my Lap Band, but never got to goal. And now I'm contemplating revision to RNY. I did have a tummy tuck 2 years ago. My surgeon was wonderful. She submitted to my insurance for a panniculectomy, but she said what I needed was a fleur de lis tummy tuck. So insurance approved the panniculectomy, but my surgeon did the fleur de lis, hernia repair and diastasis recti repair, and she didn't charge me extra. She is amazing. ❤️ One other note that I will add is I have a friend who was never a bariatric patient, but she had 4 kids and needed a tummy tuck, and her ob/gyn did the tummy tuck. She did not have good results at all and now regrets the decision. I would highly recommend having a plastic surgeon do your surgery. I think it's just a matter of finding the right surgeon in these situations.

I agree that surgeons are “just the cutters”. I don’t expect a warm fuzzy, friendly relationship but even after I specifically asked I still didn’t get to meet. My initial appt was with the NP and we decided on bypass, but even then she said you and the doctor make that final decision in a few months once you’ve gone through some of the testing and such. I just at least wanted a meeting to discuss that and other questions that the NP on my final visit told me I could ask the doctor that was more specific to the actual procedure. They did call the next day and say she will meet you in holding before you go back or if you really want to you’ll have to come back again for a face to face. I unenrolled from the program and am in the process of going somewhere else. May not be a big deal for some but after all this time it showed me a true lack of concern for the patient, I’m not the only one not getting to meet. And I at least have to minimally trust the doctor cutting me open and I can’t do that without some type of meeting. I would’ve accepted a zoom meeting even. Hoping to get started somewhere else but really bummed it came to this.

Well phooey. I want a vascular surgeon for my RNY Revision, but i'd want a plastic surgeon for plastic surgery. Best wish, I hope it turns out well for you.

I totally agree. I am also 73 and having RNY to RNY Revision. On my first visit I asked if I were too old. They said "absolutely no" and my primary care doctor concurs. Good luck!

I am due a consultation re-By-Pass surgery as soon as possible (me thinks, and hope they will consider me). Now, I had the Gastric Banding 2007 when I was 17stones. Bad move. I lost weight initially, but found I could not even swallow my saliva. Because I had it done privately, the NHS refused to help me when I got into difficulty. They did say-the Band had slipped out of position or had been placed incorrectly. In 2009 they agreed to deflate it- so I have ballooned to 20+stones. I am now prepared to have this bypass and hope this is the end of the ferris wheel. I am 73 years old. Too old some may say. But I want to die slim!!

I am interested in finding out if those here with RA noticed less severe disease activity after losing their weight. Supposedly losing weight helps reduce the inflammation in your body that causes disease activity to be more severe. I was diagnosed with RA nearly 18 years ago, and got a Lap Band in 2013. I lost some weight but never got anywhere near goal, and then developed reflux, so my BS started discussing revision, but I was nervous about revising to bypass due to my occasional need for steroids... I was on pantoprazole twice daily for a few years for the reflux, and then I developed a kidney stone from overuse of PPI's, so it was at that point I decided that it was time to remove the band, so it was removed this past April. I'm looking at revising to RNY, as my BS says the sleeve wouldn't work for me since I had reflux with my band. My Rheumy is 100% on board with revising to RNY, she says she thinks my condition will markedly improve due to less inflammation in my body. So I've stopped the celebrex and now I'm using CBD oil daily for pain to see if I can live forever like this. Rheumy says if I do need steroids in the future after RNY, she would opt for a single injection vs a medrol dose pack like I've had in the past. I'm most curious to find out if those on the post op side have seen improvements in their conditions. It would help me to decide whether or not to go forth with the revision. Thanks in advance!

Sorry to hear, remember to drink lots of water to get the system flushed. As for absorption of your antibiotics, the science is somewhat unclear, unfortunately. The review linked below states that some antibiotics seem to be absorbed just fine, some require closer monitoring. I have a fairly long bypass, and I had to have antibiotics once since surgery, and they worked as intended. But keep an eye on it; and remember it's better to call the doctor once too many. Make sure you tell them you had a malabsorptive surgery. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340806668_The_Effect_of_Bariatric_Surgery_on_Oral_Antibiotic_Absorption_a_Systematic_Review

I am allergic to all Pain meds. I had cervical surgery and a knee replacement with just Tylenol- it was hell. I now have a medical marijuana card in my state - I only do it for pain so honestly not often except in cold for arthritis. I spoke to my surgeon about it as well as my pain Dr and they both said it is fine. They have some THC with CBD pain Patches at my pharmacy I am going to get those for the hospital they last 12 hours. I smoke either carts or through a Divinchi 2 - but again only when I have arthritis pain Tylenol won’t help. My sister had bypass 25 years ago and she is the one who talked me into getting my medical card. She lives in California so she’s used it for pain for years - she is fine. Marijuana doesn’t gender healing from what I have researched. 

If you had heartburn prior to surgery I'm surprised that your popular doctor performed the VGS instead of the RNY gastric by-pass (which usually resolves reflux, heartburn, GERD). Many of the sleeve patients on this board have had revision to RNY a few years after their first surgeries. While your first 14 day diet does sound alien, your new stomach is healing. The clear liquids won't harm it, and you are getting calories from the grape and apple juices. (Most of us are told to avoid fruit juices, which contain more concentrated sugar content and lack fiber, which would make fresh fruit a healthy choice.) Two weeks of clear fluids sound daunting. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.